In the shadow of Manehatten rests the quiet alleyways and rundown city blocks. Lower-Manehatten is littered with prostitutes and drunkards, and bars and stripclubs. At the end of the day they retire to their rundown homes and go to sleep, dreaming for something better. Out of all these failed ponies there is one who seemingly stands out from the rest; a musician-poet named Rain Whiskey. He's afraid of two things; spiders, and commitment.

The city is no place for an innocent pony, but Sweetie Belle -- just fresh of 22 years old -- doesn't know that. Moving to Manehatten in search of a career in the music industry, her only weapon and qualification is her voice. But the music industry doesn't take well to out-of-the-blue singers, and talent is cheap, she'll need more to get big. But even worse, the city is big, sad, and fearsome, and she can't make it on her own, not without a hoof to hold.